5 Vegan Baking Hacks to Use During the Holiday Season

As the holidays roll around, there is ample opportunity to experiment in the kitchen. Whether you are vegan or not, substituting eggs in your baking is always a good idea when trying to keep family members’ allergens, cholesterol problems, and preferences in mind. A simple swap can easily replace an egg in any recipe and create a wonderfully delicious treat!

1. Flax Seed Egg

A simple egg replacement for any and all of your favorite recipes for baked goods can be found in flax seeds. Flax seeds are superfood seeds filled with vitamins and omega 3s. Buy ground flax seeds at your next grocery run and combine one tablespoon with three tables spoons of warm water to create an equivalent to one egg. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes and it will turn into a gelatinous, “eggy” consistency. Now your flax seed egg is ready to be added to replace your eggs! The flax seeds will be seeds in the baked goods, but they do not change the flavor or texture of your sweet treat!

2. Chia Seed Egg

Similar to the flaxseed egg, you can also make a chia seed egg by combining one tablespoon of chia seeds with three tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit for twenty minutes to reach a gelly like consistency. This type of egg works best for recipes that only call for one to two eggs. 

3. Apple Sauce

Apple sauce is a great binder but is not a good use for leavening. Add apple sauce in combination with another leavening agent for a complete recipe. Use one-fourth cup of apple for every one egg.

4. Banana

Another simple egg substitute three tablespoons of a large mashed banana or one full medium banana. They will alter the flavor of your recipe due to banana being such a defined flavor, but it will also ensure that your treats are super sweet and moist. 

5. Cake Mix + Soda

Most flavors of Dunkin Hine’s and Betty Crocker’s boxed cake, cookie, and brownie mixes are vegan; simply replace butter with vegan butter and eggs with egg replacer or flax egg. When checking the ingredients list, just look for egg and dairy products to determine if the box mix is vegan or not. Another hack to use with boxed cake mixes is combining one box with one can (12 ounces) of soda is a great hack for creating an easy, deliciously moist cake. You can super creative with the combinations. You could combine one box of vanilla cake mix with orange soda for a creamsicle cake, a chocolate cake mix with cherry cola for a chocolate cherry treat, and the list goes on!